Parts

Video Overview

The glass front panel on the third generation Touch has a plastic frame glued both to its outer edge and also under the wide black strips at the top and bottom of the device.

The picture at left (front panel already removed) shows the locations of the metal clips (shown in red) that snap on to the plastic frame. In the next few steps, try to pry the front panel up from the gaps between these clips.

Also, be mindful of the very thin and delicate touch screen ribbon cable (connector location shown in green) attaching the front panel to the upper left corner of the Touch.

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Insert the iPod opening tool between the front panel and its plastic surround and pry up at several points along the left edge of the Touch.

Do not insert the tool and run it down the edge of the front panel, as it will damage the front panel itself and the rubber strip along the plastic surround. It is best to work at one point, pry up, then remove the tool and reinsert it at the next spot to be pryed up.

I had a real challenge getting the ribbon cable connected; after 20 minutes of trying while carefully balancing the front panel and trying not to rip the ribbon, I grabbed the old screen, ripped off the connector and practiced getting it on.

I had another challenge of the connector staying on...I had noticed a little piece of rubber had come off when I took the old screen off. That piece of rubber was EXACTLY the same size as the connector; I'd guess it is meant to hold the connector in place when the panel is put back on...So, I put it on top of the connector and closed it up..

This was where I messed up, the adhesive on the digitizer was weak and when I tried to remove the original the bracket stayed in place, I figured that as I was installing the replacement and as I tried to put it into place and it wouldn't go I apparently jerked and broke the ribbon cable on the replacement there went my money now I have a faceless unusable iPod until I can order another, I did replace the LCD with little trouble though, not a completely failed repair.

5 Comments

When prying up - make sure that you lift the black plastic frame. I got trouble because on side I managed to lift the glass of the plastic frame on one side, and lifted the plastic frame out of the clips on the other sides, making it very hard to get the panel out. When I at last succeeded it was because the plastic frame broke in the lower right corner – when I had lifted the panel off the right side of the plastic frame was still attached (it needed to break at the top too before I could lift of the panel completely).

I'm getting ready to do this and have the old screen partially off to let things dry out. I am, however, unclear on what to pry on to release the ribbon. From past experience with other iPod products, I'm thinking it is a small clamp that needs to be pried up. Is that the case and, if so, is it located where the picture indicates? I think the clamp is under the small grey plastic cover.

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